Fresh off a Reynolds victory from off the trot, Pastor Stephen again came from well back Tuesday and scored in a stake-record 1:58.1 in a $278,995 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters
at The Meadows.
The event, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over five divisions, with Broad Bahn, Mythical Hall, Magnum Kosmos and Buffalino Hanover taking the other splits.
Pastor Stephen was five lengths back when Dave Palone sent him second over after the leaders. The Cantab Hall-Gala Dream colt passed horses willingly and defeated Orlando by a neck, with High Pan Tolerance a close-up third. The time shaved a tick from the previous stake mark established by Mythical Lindy in 2006.
“My cover didn’t really get me where I needed to go,” said Palone, who drove five winners on the 15-race card. “When my cover stalled out in the middle of the last turn, I had to flip him. He showed he’s a good horse. He took over from there.”
Jimmy Takter trains Pastor Stephen for Christina Takter, John Fielding and Brittany Farms.
For a time, 21-1 long shot Broad Bahn looked more like Autobahn, tearing up the first panel in :27.3. Trainer/driver Mike Vanderkemp said the quick quarter didn’t concern him, although he does plan to change bridles and add earplugs to help the youngster control his speed.
“He was a little hot getting out of there, but he relaxed once he got the lead,” Vanderkemp said of the $20,000 yearling acquisition. “He could have gone another round. He’s really strong, and he’s never made a break in his life. I hope he can stay sound and honest.”
Fam Alber Horse Racing owns Broad Bahn, a son of Broadway Hall-Madonarail.
Mythical Hall couldn’t quite match the record of Mythical Lindy, his half brother, but he scored for Mike Lachance by a nose — at a whopping 33-1 — in a promising career debut. Luckycharm Hanover was second while Not Nice completed the Trifecta.
“He’s a very smart colt, good gaited, but he’s had a little bit of an attitude problem,” said Jim Arledge, Jr., who trains the son of Andover Hall-Myth — a $100,000 yearling acquisition — for Thomas York and Joe Sbrocco. “I thought he would be right there, but I didn’t think he’d beat these guys. I’m as shocked as everyone else.”
In the $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot, three track record-holders finished within a neck of each other, with the edge going to Master Begonia, who shot the Lightning Lane for Palone and prevailed in 1:53.4. That equals the track record for older gelding trotters the seven-year-old son of Master Lavec-Shimma Begonia already shared with Lolique and Prism K.
Rembrandt Spur was second, with Chips And Wings third. Ron Burke trains Master Begonia for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
(The Meadows)